Space tourism is booming: Musk and Trump in the conflict for the future!

Space tourism is booming: Musk and Trump in the conflict for the future!

The world of space tourism has developed rapidly in recent years, and numerous companies take the step beyond the borders of the earth. The market grows by impressive 15-20%annually, which attracts not only visionary entrepreneurs but also investors. According to Finanztrends there are now leading actors such as SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic, which significantly expand the range of suborbital flights and orbitals.

SpaceX, led by Elon Musk, has established itself as the largest private partner of NASA since its foundation in 2002. In the past 10 years, the company received over $ 15 billion in contracts and was the first private company to bring a space capsule to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2012. The development of the starship, which aims at colonization of Mars, as well as inexpensive transports into space are currently in focus.

conflicts and challenges in the space industry

The political tensions between Elon Musk and Donald Trump illustrate the challenges with which the industry is faced. After only four months in office, Trump threatened to withdraw contracts, while Musk reacted with the decommissioning of his dragon room capsules. Even if these conflicts exist, Musk remains a central player in the private space sector.

Technical challenges and regulatory hurdles are some of the risks that accompany the development of space tourism. The pricing is considered crucial for the mass market ability of this new form of travel. While the ticket prices for suborbital flights are around 450,000 euros, the charter of a SpaceX capsule for orbitel experience costs around $ 200 million.

space tourism becomes reality

Space tourism is now more than just science fiction. Private companies have already brought almost 120 civilians to the limits of space. Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, and Virgin Galactic, under the leadership of Richard Branson, offer suborbital flights that take place up to 60 miles above the earth. A remarkable passenger who already made such a flight is the "Star Trek" actor William Shatner.

The flights usually only last 11 minutes and bring the passengers to the threshold of space. In 2022, the mountaineer Vanessa O’Brien flew with Blue Origin and shared her impressions of the sight of the earth. Black Origin is now planning to develop larger rockets, while Virgin Galactic strives for strategic partnerships with airlines to expand the experience.

The competence in space tourism remains hard, and while SpaceX is considered a front runner, Virgin Galactic is viewed as a speculative investment with high volatility. So far, Blue Origin has shown no interest in opening for private investors. For investors who are interested in the space industry, companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Norththrop Grumman offer investment options.

experts are optimistic that the costs for suborbital flights will decrease thanks to more frequent starts. With adapted prices and increasingly stable business models, space tourism could be accessible to a wider population in the near future, which could make the trip into space for a new adventure for many.